Former Grey's Anatomystar Isaiah Washington (Preston Burke) left the show under a cloud of controversy in 2007 after being accused of using a gay slur against co-star T.R. Knight. Since then, rumors that Isaiah is homophobic have been hard to shake, but in a recent interview he reacted with nothing but support to the news that college football star and probable NFL recruit Michael Sam has come out of the closet.

Speaking to HipHollywood, Isaiah made it clear that he respects the bravery of Michael Sam who, if drafted, will be the first out gay man in the NFL.

"I can only be an African American man. So, I'm going to always side with my brothers," Isaiah explained. As for Michael Sam, it's simple as this: "If this brother who's playing ball is brave enough, and strong enough, to tell the world ‘hey, this is who I am’ and that’s the man in him that's saying that's what he wants to do, then we gotta respect that."

Isaiah also points out that back in 1996 he starred as a gay man in the Spike Lee flick Get on the Bus. He says he got "horribly ostracized for it in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, afterwards."

“I was invited to GLAAD in New York at that time, in 1997, and was touted as the poster boy for everything good about gay," he added, pointing out that the idea that he's " just now becoming a supporter and being on the front lines of supporting my brothers [and sisters] no matter who they’re sleeping with" is just wrong.

Are you surprised by Isaiah's response? Let us know in the comments below!